Tracings April Sample

TracingsAPRIL 2012

Monthly Newsletter of the AIA Santa Clara Valley Chapter AIASCV

A First-Time Attendee’s Perspective on the

2012 AIA Grassroots Conference

PARTNERS

2MARCH 2012

AIA Santa Clara Valley Corporate Partners play

an important role in our Chapter. All of these

local companies are proven leaders in their fields

and provide continuing support to our local

Chapter and our architects.

We love what we do. The buildings we choose to build can

change lives. From research centers that eliminate diseases

to institutions that educate tomorrow’s leaders, our work

makes a difference. There is pride in all that we do, con-

tinually strengthening our commitment.

1600 Seaport Boulevard, Suite 350

Redwood City, CA 94063 • Tel 650/216-3600

www.rsconstruction.com

Tsakopoulos Investments, Bank of the West Tower

Passion for Construction

Rudolph and Sletten’s work ethics are one of the highest in theindustry.”Jerry D. JordanDirector of Regional Sales/Director of Estimating and EngineeringSASCO

BOARDOF DIRECTORSJeff Current, AIAPresident

Steve Sowa, AIAVice President/President Elect

Walter Rask, AIASecretary Samuel Sanderson, AIATreasurer

Chuck Campanella, Associate AIAAssociates Director Kay MascoliExecutive Director

DirectorsEd Janke, AIAHari Sripadanna, AIAThang Do, AIABrian Mah, AIABritt Lindberg, AIA

Marcel BarbozaStudent Liaison

Linder Jones, AIA Past President

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Architectural Furniture Interior Design

wwwStudioCurrent.com

Jeff Current, President

408.205.1126

[email protected]

sustainable design.

AIACC ANDLEGISLATIVEADVOCACYLegislative advocacy is a primary function of the AIA California Council, which

dedicates resources and staff time to have a voice before the California State

Legislature. The reason? The decisions made by our Legislature can have a

significant impact on the profession.

The profession of architecture in California exists because of state law. The scope

of practice and licensing – who can do what – is all spelled out in state law.

Additionally, many other laws affect the practice and business of architecture.

This year, legislation has been introduced that will enact a sales tax on services,

including architectural services (AB 1963), create a Practice Act and licensing board

for interior designers (AB 2482), adopt building standards to require buildings to

be located and designed to reduce vehicle miles traveled (AB 1627), and possibly

reduce the ability of public entities to contract for services (AB 1655).

The AIACC also regularly sponsors legislation to address issues important to the

profession. This means the AIACC will go to Legislators and suggest changes to

state law that they can introduce as legislation.

The sponsored legislation is developed by AIACC Members and staff, after

talking with Members directly and reviewing the annual AIACC Advocacy survey.

The developed legislation is presented to the AIACC Board of Directors for its

consideration, and if the Board agrees, approval.

AIA CALIFORNIA COUNCIL (AIACC) STAFFDIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

MARK CHRISTIAN, HON. AIACC(916) 642-1708

[email protected]

6MARCH 2012

AIACC Executive Committee & Board of Directors

Last November the AIACC Board approved four items for possible sponsored legislation.

Those items are:

Indemnification The AIACC is sponsoring legislation, SB 1276, to address

the increasing problem of architects and other design

professionals having the legal obligation to defend a client

upon a claim that the design professional is partly the

cause of the legal problem, even if the architect or other

design professional has been found to not be at fault. The

Legislature considered and rejected a similar suggestion

last year, so the AIACC knows this will not be an easy task.

The AIACC is working with several attorneys and insurers to

develop language that will offer some protection to design

professionals in the event the Legislature will not provide

complete and reasonable protection to design professionals.

Qualifications Based Selection The AIACC is sponsoring SB 1424 in response to the

growing trend of public agencies using fees to select design

professionals for public projects. The approach taken with

SB 1424 is creative, and copies the tactic used in Nevada

and Texas. It places language in the Architects Practice Act

language that prohibits architects from providing a fee during

the selection phase of public works (the same language

would be placed in the Engineers and Land Surveyors

practice acts). This is intended to give architects the ability

to say they cannot provide a fee with the RFQ, as that would

be a violation of the Practice Act and subject the architect to

discipline from the California Architects Board.

California Environmental Quality Act The AIACC is working with a large coalition to

develop proposals to reform CEQA to bring greater

certainty to the process of reviewing and mitigating

significant environmental impacts caused by

projects. The AIACC is hopeful this could result in

legislative language for later this year.

Mandatory Continuing Education The Board approved the AIACC sponsoring

legislation to allow a broad-based health, safety,

and welfare continuing education requirement for

architects. Because AIACC staff has received a

clear message from the Governor’s office that the

Governor opposes mandatory continuing education

and would veto any proposal, the AIACC has

decided against pursuing this bill.

LEGISLATIVEADVOCACYRedevelopmentRedevelopment Agencies are gone as of January 31st.The AIACC Urban Design Committee will stay apprised of any effort to create a new redevelopment assistance mechanism, and will present recommendations to the Board if warranted.

AB 1207 – LiabilityAB 1207 was defeated last month.The bill would have removed the 10 year statute of limitation for design and construction defects if the defects are pollution, hazardous or toxic materials related.The AIACC was a part of a large coalition opposed to this bill.

Court ConstructionFinally, the AIACC is a part of a new coalition of labor, contractor, sub-contractor, and design professional groups that is organized for the sole purpose of protecting the Court Construction Funds. The California Court system is in the early stages of a 40+ project court construction program.

Last year the Governor and Legislature took more than $300 million from the court construction fund, which was meant to be used to purchase land and hire architects.

The coalition will engage in aggressive lobbying and grassroots activity to protect the fund.

AIACC Executive Committee & Board of Directors

9 MARCH 2012

AIACC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE &BOARD OF DIRECTORS

VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS,LEE E. SALIN, AIA, HMC ARCHITECTS

This issue of TRACINGS has “Advocacy” as our topic of discussion. The American Institute of Architects participates in advocacy at all levels; from local grass roots activism to what AIA is doing at the State and National levels.

We are in a profession that requires huge amounts of advocacy in order to change the built environment. This process involves the study of a site and its context, along with its history & its inhabitants. We employ consultants to investigate traffic and noise and plants and animals, then to report their findings back to the governing bodies and the community at large. Sometimes the role is more Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) than Gary Cooper as Howard Roark (The Fountainhead)… more Attorney than Architect.

Most of us have spent many a late night at public hearings speaking on behalf of projects that we’ve toiled long and hard over in order to promote the benefits of our creations to the NIMBYs and neighbors of that place. Hours of testimony, bickering, wrangling, pleading… and sometimes even fighting occur. (I’ve been at several City Council meetings where armed cops are present to keep the peace). My first television appearances have been in Fresno and Santa Cruz County on local cable TV channels as I’ve presented at Planning Commission & Council. Who knew the celebrity status that accompanies such an honest and humble position as an Architect??? …

To support or urge by argument / A person who speaks or writes in support of a cause / A person who pleads for or in behalf of another.

[v. ad-vuh-keyt; n. ad-vuh-kit, -keyt]

(from The Random House Webster’s Dictionary – 1993)

11 MARCH 2012

BY: JEFFREY CURRENT2012 AIA PRESIDENTAIA SANTA CLARA VALLEY CHAPTER

STUDIO CURRENT

Designing and creating is what draws most into the field of Architecture. We gain our energy and our value by using design talent to make places that will inspire others to live, work and play at a higher level. Few of us get into the profession in order to play the role of Advocate, but we all learn rather quickly how important the role is if you intend to actually get any of your projects accepted and built.

Few clients or communities will sit back and allow any Architect or development team a carte blanche position to build in their backyard. In fact it’s imperative today

to present your projects in such a way that the neighbors get to virtually “live in” your creation before it’s built in order to completely understand what they’re getting. Modeling software and visual simulations are so realistic it is sometimes difficult to know which are the existing buildings and which are being proposed.

I urge all of you to take your role as Advocate seriously. Understand the responsibility that we have to design projects that contribute and solve problems for our communities. Learn to debate and defend the work you create and surround yourself with a team who provides support and insight in order to strengthen your position as a project Advocate.

ADVOCACYNow that I’ve been with the AIA Santa Clara Valley Chapter for two months, I want to hear directly from our members on how we can provide additional value for you.

Many of you recently completed a survey on member value, what you want to see from programs and related topics, and it was of great interest for me to understand the areas that are high up on your list. I’ve noted the top three here along with some actions that have or will be taken to support your requests. I encourage you to send me your feedback directly, so I can add it to the mix, [email protected].

More joint meetings with other organizations

On April 26, we are co-sponsoring an event with the Urban Land Institute (ULI). It will be a breakfast meeting and panel discussion on the next phase project for Santana Row. HMH Engineering is a sponsor for the event. Find out more on the AIASCV web site.

I’m meeting with the Silicon Valley Leadership for U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) this month to discuss ways in which we might collaborate with their organization.

What organizations do you think would be worthwhile to connect with aboutco-sponsoring an event with AIASCV?

AIACC Executive Committee & Board of Directors

It’s all about our members!

13 MARCH 2012

KAY MASCOLIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

More Project tours

Our Programs Committee is exploring opportunities to hold a building tour for an upcoming Chapter meeting, so we’ll keep you posted when this gets organized.

What buildings would be of interest to you for a project to tour? If you have a building to tour, how we can we arrange a tour with you? More interaction with or feedback from local government planning

Several of our current and past board members, along with myself, have participated in meetings over the last two months to see how we can collaborate with key San Jose Downtown organizations to help fill the gap created by the demise of the San Jose Redevelopment Agency. These include the Downtown Association, First Act, and SPUR (San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association), which opened up an office in San Jose last Fall.

My predecessor, Gail Price, has introduced me to groups to meet or continue a dialogue with, including the Publics Works Department and the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement’s Developers’ and Construction Roundtable.

What local government groups do you consider important for AIASCV to know and how we can provide more interaction with them for members?

On a Similar Note -- Federal and State Advocacy at the local level

I recently attended the AIA National Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C, along with one of our Board Directors, Britt Lindberg (see related article). Besides attending workshops to learn what other chapters are doing, hearing about lessons learned from experts from the architectural community, and gaining a broader understanding about AIA resources that can help us out, we spent a day on Capitol Hill visiting our Congressional Representatives.

In February I attended meetings in Sacramento with the AIA California Council, where I was able to meet AIACC staff and other executives to better understand issues facing us in the State. AIASCV will also plan to hold visits with our California State Representatives.

How can you get involved and be heard? Visit your local Congressional District or State Legislative offices and meet with staff. Develop relationships with elected officials and staff by inviting them to visit your office for a tour or attend events that will help them better understand what architects are all about.

If you are interested, AIASCV can help facilitate this.

Many of you are familiar with the AIA National Convention that occurs every year in varying cities, filled with vendors and their latest wares, members and their quests to meet others and gain CE credits, and national speakers with their words of inspiration and wisdom. But few may be aware of a smaller and equally impressive annual AIA national event, the AIA Grassroots ‘Leadership and Legislative’ Conference.

This is an event that occurs every year in March, where executive representatives from AIA chapters all across the organization are invited to assemble in Washington, DC. The focus is on Leadership, Advocacy, and Communication, and its purpose is to:

Provide training and share ideas regarding effective chapter events and leadership.Encourage ‘citizen architect’ collaboration and engagement within our local communities. Promote Congressional support for specific legislation that benefits architects, our industry, and the value of design on the quality of life within our built environments.

This year, I had the privilege of traveling with our AIASCV Executive Director, Kay Mascoli, to help represent our Chapter at the Grassroots conference. As with any AIA gathering, I came away with many new friends and contacts, and an overload of ideas to share with our Chapter and Board.

But most of all, by attending this event with over 700 other chapter leaders, I came away with a renewed appreciation of the AIA’s important work in advocacy for our profession at the local and the national levels.

A First-Time Attendee’s Perspective on the 2012 AIA Grassroots Conference

15 MARCH 2012

This is a key tenet of our organization, yet one for which our members may not often have direct exposure or knowledge.

The highlights of the advocacy efforts at the conference were the Capitol Hill visits, which took place throughout the day on Thursday, March 8th. To be honest, as an architect early on in my career, and as a first-time Grassroots conference attendee, I was quite anxious at the thought of meeting with staff from congressional representatives offices, to ask their support in the legislative agenda being promoted by the AIA:

Remove Barriers to Private Sector Lending: Support HR 1356, Capital Access for Main Street, offering incentives to local banks for funding of construction projects in their communities, particularly those that may be stalled due to lack of available financing.

Help Small Architecture Firms Thrive: Support HR 3987, the Small Business Protection Act of 2012, to keep architects separate from engineering firms when the Small Business Administration sets their size standards defining small businesses, and ensure fair small business access to SBA programs.

Pass a Transportation Bill to Get our Communities Moving Again: Support legislation to maintain current levels of transportation project funding to support ‘complete streets’ and connected, sustainable communities.Save Energy, Create Jobs: Support increasing the 179D tax deduction for commercial and residential energy efficiency upgrades from $1.80/SF to $3.00/SF.

BY BRITT LINDBERG, AIA, LEED AP, AIASCV DIRECTOR & FOUNDING

LOCAL YAF GROUP CHAIREMAIL: BRITT_LINDBERG@

GENSLER.COM

A First-Time Attendee’s Perspective on the 2012 AIA Grassroots Conference

However, the AIA prepared several helpful handouts as a guide, and conversations with past attendees also assured me that speaking honestly from personal experience was the best approach.

Kay and I made a great team in our advocacy efforts, meeting with staff from Rep. Mike Honda’s office, Rep. Anna Eshoo’s office, Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s office, and Rep. Jackie Speier’s office, often in conjunction with AIA SMC or AIA SF colleagues. We made sure to give specific, personal examples in support of each legislative item above. The congressional staff we met with were quite understanding and attentive, and our AIA SCV office is committed to pursuing these issues in ongoing conversations with our local representatives. If you would like to help the office continue to reach out to any of these representatives, please don’t hesitate to contact us and find out how you can help.

The next day, at the AIA Member Congress event, all conference attendees had a chance to hear two resolutions that will be up for vote by chapter leaders at the coming national convention, and also to present their own ideas to AIA National Executives at an open discussion forum. Two resolutions that will be up for vote include possible raising of the AIA Emeritus age from 65 to 70 (with impact on dues payment and revenue), and possible formulation of a new AIA International Region to cover members in non-U.S. countries. If you would like to share your thoughts on these issues with your AIASCV Chapter leaders, please contact the AIASCV office, or talk to your Board members at the next Chapter meeting.

Numerous professional development workshops also took place throughout the conference, and I attended ‘Building a Solid Social Media Strategy’ and ‘Lessons from the YAF20 Summit’. Please remember the AIASCV is now on Facebook, and that our local group of the YAF continues to hold its monthly lunch-time meetup at the San Pedro Square Market on the 2nd Monday of every month from 12-1pm. Come to our next AIASCV event and ask me more about what I learned at these workshops, if you are interested.

– Mickey Jacob FAIA, AIA First Vice President, and 2012 Grassroots Chair

“Come as you are. Leave inspired.”

17 MARCH 2012

Not everything at the conference was all business, however. In addition to working hard, architects also know how to have a good time. A good deal of social networking and inspirational speaking events took place as well, including:A reception at the Ronald Reagan Convention Center (with a performance by the comedy troupe, the Capitol Steps, http://www.capsteps.com/; “Pro-gress is the opposite of Con-gress”).

An Open House at the AIA National Headquarters (including a tour of the nearby historic Octagon House, http://www.aia.org/conferences/green/AIAB082816?dvid=&recspec=AIAB082816 ; and gallery exhibits for the Emerging Professionals Annual Exhibition, and past Time Magazine covers showcasing influential architects).

An Emerging Professionals Social very late into the night, where AIA National Executives and Regional Director mentors mingled with recently-licensed architects over cocktails, conversation, and shuffleboard. (It was a very interesting experience to turn around in a bar and be able to start a conversation with AIA Executive Vice President and CEO, Robert Ivy, FAIA.)A California regional AIA meeting, where amongst other items discussed, Paul Welch, Jr., Hon. AIA, reminded us that it is a sign of the utmost respect for the software industry to use the term ‘architect’ in titles of certain job positions.Presentation of an AIA award to the AIA New York State chapter, for its “Every Building has an Architect” postcard campaign, sent to journalists to remind them to credit architects when writing articles about building projects. (http://www.aianys.org/ebha_postcard.pdf).

An inspirational closing keynote address by guest speaker Vernice “Fly Girl” Armour, who has appeared on Oprah and CNN, and believes that ‘You HAVE permission to engage’. (And so if you are committed to achieving something, you should go for it and not let anyone or anything stop you; http://vernicearmour.com/).

In my personal time after the conference and before flying back to California, I was also able to visit several landmark highlights of our nation’s capital city. The

Georgetown district (with one lone cherry blossom tree in bloom), the National Cathedral, the Air and Space Museum, walks along the Mall and near the White House, and seeing a play at the Ford’s Theater where Lincoln was assassinated.

All reminded me of the power of design on the quality of life and spirit that architects are so instrumental in creating. As a first-time attendee at the AIA Grassroots conference, I am certainly inspired to continue to be an active member in our profession, our AIA SCV Chapter, and our national AIA organization. I also encourage you all to get involved if you are able; it is truly professionally rewarding and inspiring.

“Come as you are. Leave inspired.” – Mickey Jacob FAIA, AIA First Vice President, and 2012 Grassroots Chair

– Mickey Jacob FAIA, AIA First Vice President, and 2012 Grassroots Chair

AIA CHAPTER MEETING

19 MARCH 2012

AIASCV Chapter Meeting

Sponsor for March

P H Winters Construction

A big thanks for your sponsorship and sharing images of some of the spectacu-lar homes you have brought to life!

“Sponsoring the AIASCV’s March chapter meeting focusing on past Design Award winners was an great opportunity for us. It enabled us to connect with a large number of AIASCV members, and gain expo-sure for our particular con-struction expertise and services through a slide pre-sentation of our work.”

Peter Winters, PresidentP H Winters Construction